Six high school hoop players awarded William F. Casey Scholarships

Scott Rainaud already has student college loans on his not-too-distant horizon.

When the recent South Hadley High School graduate learned last week he was a recipient of a local high school basketball scholarship, he was most appreciative.

Rainaud and five other boys and girls high school basketball players were selected as this year's William F. Casey Scholarship winners. The scholarships are granted by the Hampshire-Franklin Board No. 28 of officials.

"I think it's a really big honor," said Rainaud, who will major in finance or marketing at Fairfield University. "It's an honor to be recognized for all my hard work throughout the year. It's good it paid off in the long run. It's not a crazy amount of money, but any amount will help out. I'm going to have a lot of student loans, so this will help."

Rainaud missed the second half of the season due to a torn rotator cuff in mid-January. The season didn't get any better as his Tigers lost in the first round of the Western Massachusetts Division II tournament.

"It was kind of tough to watch," said the 6-foot-3 forward. "We lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in a long time. We had won five of the last seven Western Mass. titles, so it was tough to watch and not do anything about it. It was a tough year."

But the scholarship made the season a little better.

"It's much appreciated," Rainaud said.

Board No. 28 has handed out more than $50,000 since 1981. The awards go to seniors who plan to attend college or graduate school.